Netflix has unveiled a lineup of upcoming original
Korean content during the See What’s Next Korea 2021 virtual event. The titles revealed
at the event consist of a variety of genres and stories, from series and movies to sitcoms
and stand-up comedies, and are expected to further raise the expectations of fans waiting
for unique Korean content.
List of upcoming Netflix Korean Originals:
The Silence Sea
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| Starring: Bae Doo-na, Gong Yoo & Lee Joon Directed by: Choi Hang-Yong |
Set in a future where water and food have almost run out on Earth due to global desertification, The
Silent Sea follows the story of the members of a special team that set out to a research base on the
Moon. A story with unexpected twists and turns, The Silent Sea is a series based on director Choi
Hang-yong’s short film that was given a major spotlight at the 13th Mise-en-scène Short Film
Festival in 2014.
Director Choi took the lead again for the series, teaming up with writer Park
Eun-kyo, who won Best Screenplay for the film Mother at the 29th Korean Association of Film
Critics Awards. The series has garnered much attention as actor Jung Woo-sung joined the project
as an executive producer. Actors Bae Doo-na, Gong Yoo, and Lee Joon play members of the team
on a life-risking mission to the Moon, often dubbed “the silent sea,” promising to deliver intense
suspense to the viewers.
D.P
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| Starring Jung Hae-in, Koo Kyo-hwan, Kim Sung-kyun & Son Seok-koo Directed by Han Jun-hee |
D.P. is a Netflix original series that follows the story of army private Joon-ho, one of many soldiers
serving in the Korean military, who suddenly ends up becoming a member of the “Deserter Pursuit”
unit that tracks down military deserters and encounters the realities of confused young soldiers.
The series is based on a webtoon by Kim Bo-tong that garnered over 10 million views for its
realistic portrayal of the brutal violence and human rights violations committed in the military with
the refreshing theme of Deserter Pursuit (D.P.), a military police unit in charge of arresting soldiers
who deserted their posts.
The series is expected to balance the tension and thrill of chasing down
deserters from the perspective of “soldiers catching soldiers” while shedding light on the mental
torment and hurts of young people who chose to escape. Actors Jung Hae-in, Koo Kyo-hwan, and
Kim Sung-kyun play members of D.P., while Son Seok-koo plays a military official that disapproves
of them to represent the trouble-ridden daily life in the deserter arrest unit.
My Name
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| Starring: Han So-hee, Park Hee-soon, Ahn Bo-hyun, Kim Sang-ho, Lee Hak-ju & Jang Yull Directed by: Kim Jin-min |
My Name is a Netflix original series that follows the story of Ji-u, who joins the police force as an
undercover for a crime organization in order to find the truth about her father’s death and presents
fist-clenching suspense of Ji-u’s revenge and the harsh truths uncovered in the process. Director
Kim Jin-min, whose previous work Extracurricular received much attention for the dark and twisted
realities of teenagers and Korean society it portrayed, took the helm again for this upcoming series,
promising a story of cold revenge and adrenaline-pumping action.
Actor Han So-hee, who
impressed audiences with her unparalleled presence in The World of the Married, transforms
herself as Ji-u, showcasing her limitless range again. Veteran actors, including Park Hee-soon, Kim
Sang-ho, Lee Hak-ju, and Jang Yull, and up-and-coming fresh faces have been cast for an
amazing ensemble performance along with stunning noir action.
Move to Heaven
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| Starring: Lee Je-Hoon and Tang Jun-Sang Directed by: Kim Sung-ho |
Move to Heaven is a Netflix original series about a young man named Geu-ru with Asperger’s
syndrome and Sang-gu, who becomes Geu-ru’s guardian, as they start a trauma cleaning business
and uncover the stories that are left behind by the deceased. Directed by Kim Sung-ho of How to
Steal a Dog and written by Yoon Ji-ryun of Angel Eyes, the series centers around a unique theme of
“trauma cleaners” to pass on the messages from the deceased and tell the moving stories of those
who are left behind. Lee Je-hoon, beloved by audiences for his persuasive and nuanced
performances, plays the role of Sang-gu, and rising star Tang Jun-sang plays the role of Geu-ru to
relay the last words of those who passed.
Squid Game
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| Starring: Lee Jung-jae, Park Hae-soo Directed by: Hwang Dong-hyuk |
Squid Game is a Netflix original series about people who participate in a mysterious survival game
with a 40-million-dollar prize at stake. Viewers will find themselves glued to the screen by the
tension and suspense from various players desperate enough to participate in a game that could
risk their lives and the choices made by people who are pushed to extreme situations. It’s the first
TV series of director Hwang Dong-hyuk, whose previous works such as Silenced, Miss Granny, and
The Fortress have offered insightful and poignant messages about society. Lee Jung-jae plays
Ki-hun, who lost his job and hit the rock bottom, while Park Hae-soo plays Sang-woo, who gets into
trouble after embezzling his company’s funds, to capture the raw realities of those who risk their
lives through a survival game.
Love Alarm Season 2
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| Love Alarm 2 to release on 12 March 2021 Starring: Kim So-hyun, Jung Ga-ram, Song Kang, Ko Min-si & Kim Si-eun Directed by: Kim Jin-woo |
Set in a world where a notification on an app called “Love Alarm” becomes the only indicator of
love, Love Alarm season 2 is a Netflix original series about a girl who cannot trigger Love Alarm and
two guys with unabashed love for her trying to figure out how she feels.
Season 2 picks up from the
end of season 1, which became a huge sensation for its original concept of Love Alarm—which
signals the user when someone with a crush on them is within the radius of 10 meters—and the
perfect chemistry among its gorgeous cast, Kim So-hyun, Jung Ga-ram, and Song Kang, to tell
their unfinished story. The new season will explore the unresolved feelings of first love of Jojo,
Sun-oh, and Hye-yeong and capture various aspects of a society where the number of hearts on
Love Alarm becomes so valuable that it affects a person’s social status.
Hellbound
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| Starring: Yoo Ah-in, Park Jeong-min, Kim Hyun-ju, Won Jin-ah and Yang Ik-June Directed by Yeon Sang-ho |
Hellbound depicts supernatural phenomena experienced by people who are condemned to hell
after their unexpected encounters with angels of death. The intense series will depict supernatural
events that are neither a miracle nor a curse, the rise of a new religious group that interprets the
events as the will of the divine, and people trying to survive in the chaotic society. Hell, the widely
popular original webtoon published on Naver, created a lot of buzz from the beginning as it was
co-created by illustrator Choi Gyu-seok of Awl (or Songgot in Korean) and director Yeon Sang-ho,
taking charge of the storyline. The Netflix series stars Yoo Ah-in, Park Jeong-min, Kim Hyun-ju,
Won Jin-ah, and Yang Ik-june.
All of Us are Dead
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| Starring: Yoon Chae-yeong, Park Ji-hu, Cho Yi-hyun, Lomon, and Yoo In-soo Directed by Lee JQ and Enes Kim |
All of Us Are Dead is a story about people who are trapped in a high school where a zombie virus is
spreading and those who are trying to save them as extreme situations riddled with surprises
unfold. The original webtoon, Now at Our School, topped the chart among Wednesday webtoon
series on Naver as soon as it was published in 2009 and became so wildly popular that each weekly
episode topped the portal’s trending keyword list. The Netflix series is directed by Lee JQ, whose
refreshing, sensational works include TV series Beethoven Virus and Damo: The Legendary Police
Woman and a film Intimate Strangers. The series stars many rising stars with solid acting skills and
refreshing charm, including Yoon Chan-yeong, Park Ji-hu, Cho Yi-hyun, Lomon, and Yoo In-soo.
Kingdom: Ashin of the North
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| Starring: Gianne Jun and Park Byung-eun Directed by Kim Seong-hun |
Kingdom: Ashin of the North is a sidequel to the global K-zombie sensation Kingdom and tells the
story of “Ashin,” the heiress to a northern Jurchen town, and the secret behind the resurrection
plant. Created as a special episode, it is spun off from the story of Kingdom season 2 and depicts
what happened in the past to the mysterious character Ashin, who encountered Lee Chang’s group
on their northbound mission to uncover the truth behind the resurrection plant.
Gianna Jun, whose
appearance at the end of season 2 created much buzz, plays Ashin to unfold the story that
everyone has been waiting for. Actor Park Byung-eun, who made a lasting impression on the
viewers as the head of the Royal Commandery Min Chi-rok, makes another appearance in this
special episode.
Night in Paradise
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| To release on 9 April 2021 Starring: Um Tae-goo, Jeon Yeo-been and Cha Seoung-won Directed by: Park Hoon-jung |
Night in Paradise is a film about a man targeted by a criminal gang and a woman cornered to a dead
end in life. Director Park Hoon-jung, whose works such as New World, V.I.P., and The Witch: Part 1.
The Subversion have established him as a genre master for their compelling stories and brilliant
action scenes, returns with yet another noir film that is quintessentially Korean.
Night in Paradise
was the only Korean film to be screened out of competition at the 77th Venice International Film
Festival, where the film earned critical acclaim early on. Anticipation is high for the film as it
promises to deliver an enthralling performance by the cast, including Um Tae-goo, who made his
unique presence known in The Age of Shadows and The Great Battle; Jeon Yeo-been, who
garnered unanimous praise for her performance in After My Death; and Cha Seoung-won, who
transformed himself as unforgettable villain in Believer.
Lee Su-geun: The Sense Coach
So Not Worth It
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| Starring Park Se-wan, Shin Hyeon-seung, GOT7's Young-jae, (G)I-DLE's Minnie & Han Hyun Min Directed by: Kwon Ik-joon and Kim Jung-sik |
So Not Worth It is a sitcom about students of diverse nationalities living in the international dormitory of a university in Seoul and portrays their love, friendship, and life adventures. Kwon Ik-joon, who has created some of the most beloved Korean sitcoms, including Korea’s first iconic sitcom series, Three Guys and Three Girls, and Nonstop, is the creator and director of this upcoming project, while Kim Jung-sik, who co-directed High Kick!, Potato Star 2013QR3, and Shut Up and Smash, joined the project as the co-director.
It is co-written by Seo Eun-jung of New Nonstop and Baek Ji-hyun of Nonstop season 1, 2, and 3 as well as Ugly Miss Young-ae season 15, 16, and 17. The cast for the international dorm residents in So Not Worth It has been confirmed, including Park Se-wan, Shin Hyun-seung, Choi Young-jae (GOT7), Minnie ((G)I-DLE), and Han Hyun-min.
Paik's Spirit
Paik’s Spirit is a Netflix original series where Paik Jong-won sits down for a drink with top Korean celebrities and professionals in various fields to have a conversation about drinking and life. Netflix partnered with Paik to create its first reality series, where the restaurateur introduces Korean alcoholic beverages, food, and culture. Anticipation runs high as viewers around the world will be able to enjoy Paik’s gift of the gab and charming presence that have won the hearts of Korean audiences. Featuring various alcoholic beverages ranging from soju—which in its characteristic green bottle stands at the center of Korean drinking culture—to beer, Korean traditional liquors, rice wine, and even craft beer, the series promises to bring stories of “the most uniquely Korean” drinks to intrigue the senses of viewers around the globe.
Photo credit to Netflix
